IT Consulting Services Companies: Frequently Asked Questions
Who uses IT Consulting Services Companies?
In today's computer oriented business world, practically any company could benefit from hiring an IT consultant to manage or improve its data solutions. In most cases, the determining factor in whether a company consults with an IT expert is its size; that is, when a company gets large enough, its mediocre IT solutions usually become apparent. But even the smallest companies are known to implement professional IT solutions, especially when data quality plays a significant role in their growth potential.
What Services Do IT Consulting Services Companies Offer?
Although the solutions offered by IT companies vary by IT company, most IT companies offer the same range of services, including: firewall and security, virus protection, remote system access, back up solutions and disaster recovery, systems integration, proprietary data protection and email and spam control. Most IT companies offer software solutions on both an internal software model and a SaaS model, with the latter being more popular due its lower implementation cost, absence of maintenance fees and ability to offer remote system access.
Is IT Consulting the Same as IT Auditing?
IT consulting is a general term that describes working with an IT expert to improve an existing IT system, regardless of the method. However, there is a difference between IT consulting firms in terms of whether they manage IT solutions or examine IT solutions that are already under management. Managed IT services focuses on the former, while IT auditing focuses on the latter. In many cases, companies hire for IT management and then for IT auditing to insure that their solutions continue to meet their needs.
How Much Do IT Consulting Services Companies Charge?
The fees paid to an IT consultant vary according to the services provided. For example, implementing internal solutions typically entails hardware costs, software costs and consulting fees, whereas implementing a SaaS solution results in an ongoing service fee that is determined by the solutions provided and the number of users that access the system. In the case of pure consulting, such as IT auditing, an hourly rate is charged. $150/hr. is a ballpark estimate of how much you can expect to pay for consulting alone.
What Happens if an IT Company's Solutions Don't Work?
In most cases, the question is not whether an IT company's solutions will work, but whether they will work as well as predicted. In the event that solutions don't deliver on their promise, reputable IT companies will correct the problem before accepting final payment. But there are also companies that collect final payment on the basis of work performed as opposed to results delivered. Therefore, clients of IT outsourcing services should always ask upfront about a company's payment system and make their hiring decision accordingly.
In today's computer oriented business world, practically any company could benefit from hiring an IT consultant to manage or improve its data solutions. In most cases, the determining factor in whether a company consults with an IT expert is its size; that is, when a company gets large enough, its mediocre IT solutions usually become apparent. But even the smallest companies are known to implement professional IT solutions, especially when data quality plays a significant role in their growth potential.
What Services Do IT Consulting Services Companies Offer?
Although the solutions offered by IT companies vary by IT company, most IT companies offer the same range of services, including: firewall and security, virus protection, remote system access, back up solutions and disaster recovery, systems integration, proprietary data protection and email and spam control. Most IT companies offer software solutions on both an internal software model and a SaaS model, with the latter being more popular due its lower implementation cost, absence of maintenance fees and ability to offer remote system access.
Is IT Consulting the Same as IT Auditing?
IT consulting is a general term that describes working with an IT expert to improve an existing IT system, regardless of the method. However, there is a difference between IT consulting firms in terms of whether they manage IT solutions or examine IT solutions that are already under management. Managed IT services focuses on the former, while IT auditing focuses on the latter. In many cases, companies hire for IT management and then for IT auditing to insure that their solutions continue to meet their needs.
How Much Do IT Consulting Services Companies Charge?
The fees paid to an IT consultant vary according to the services provided. For example, implementing internal solutions typically entails hardware costs, software costs and consulting fees, whereas implementing a SaaS solution results in an ongoing service fee that is determined by the solutions provided and the number of users that access the system. In the case of pure consulting, such as IT auditing, an hourly rate is charged. $150/hr. is a ballpark estimate of how much you can expect to pay for consulting alone.
What Happens if an IT Company's Solutions Don't Work?
In most cases, the question is not whether an IT company's solutions will work, but whether they will work as well as predicted. In the event that solutions don't deliver on their promise, reputable IT companies will correct the problem before accepting final payment. But there are also companies that collect final payment on the basis of work performed as opposed to results delivered. Therefore, clients of IT outsourcing services should always ask upfront about a company's payment system and make their hiring decision accordingly.
Source...